Internal-combustion engine.



H. L! F. TREBERT.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED act. 18. 1911.

1,215,434. 7 1 mm m). 13, 1917.

5 iHEETS-SHEET I- \YA N55555:

r v flyg'y LE Dale j I 4/ I WA-TTF H. L. F. THEBEHT. .INTERNALfiOMgUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18' 19H.

Patented Feb. 13,1917;

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. L. F. TREBERT.

1 INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILD OCT. 18. 1911.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

5 SI EETS-SHEET 3.

' W NE 5555:

H. L F. TREBERT. INTERNAL comausnou ENGINE.

APPLICATION HLED OCT. 18. 1911. 1 1,215,434. Patentedlieb. 13,1917.

5 SHEET i-SNEET 4.

UNITED STATES PAT NT o:

HENRY L. F. TBEBEBT, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO K. L. E'TREBEBT ROTARY MOTOR 00., INQ, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A COR ORATION OF NEW Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

Application flIedQctober 18, 1911. Serial No. 655,328.

YORK.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

1,215,434, Spepifloation of Letters ratent.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HnNnY L. F. Tnnnnit r,

' a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Rochester, in. the county of Monroe and"-.

"the englne, or one rotati )n of eachsuch unit State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Internal-Combustion Engine, of which the followin is a specification.

This invention re ates to internal combustion engines of that class in which a plurality of units, each comprising-a, preferably independent, cylinder with a piston working thereinoperatively connected to the load, are caused torotate about -a common relatively fixed axis. p

The purpose of my, invention isto pro- 'vide anengine of the character described with a minimum number of moving and Wearing parts together with a minimum weight for the entire structure. In carrying out my invention-I arrange a seriesoffsuch cylinders with their axes parallel and equidistant from the axis of the mg member leading to each cylinder to conengine,'and atthe closed end of each cylin-' der opposite the crank I provide a tubular connecting member and chamber therefor in which the tubular connecting memher is preferably spring actuated in a radial direction inwardly agalnst a common cylindrical member comprising two chambers con! nected with the ingress and egress pipes or passages and having intake and exhaust ports cooperating with the tubular connectnec t each such cylinder alternately to the source of supply and to the exhaust. IThe cylinders are connected to a-common crank case within which the crank shafts are revolubly snpported one for eachcylinder.

The crank shafts are of courseradially disposed with regard to .the axis of the engine,

. and each carries on the inner, end a planet gear. cooperating-with a common fixed sun gear to efiectthe rotation of the crank case and the cylinders as a whole. The crank 'case and cylinders, thus comprising the balance wheel of the englne, are revolubly supported upon a fixed shaft which extends into a sleeve carried by the crank case. and the crank case is provided with an outwardly extending shaft which revolves in a fixed bearing and may have on the end thereof outside. of the bearing means for transmitting rotation to the load to be driven.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an cmbmlilnent' of my in-ventioii'as' applied to an internal combustion engine comprising six, so called, four cycle units cooperatively connected and so arrar god that each unit completes its four cycles. for one rotation of p1 e and carbureter rem oved.

on of the crank shafts ig. 4 is an end view of the engine as seen from the right andsho'vs the gears, seen at the right hand 'endand outside of the crank case, only in their pitch lines.

Fig. .5 shows in an enlarged longitudinal sectional view the ms in central fixed or sun gear of the engine and the shaft upon which the: same is secum ed together with the revolvinmember encircling the shaftland also the caring for tl is revoluble member, in the engine frame.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the contacting segment and the ow or terminal of one of the spark. plugs. 1

Fig. 7 is a central sertional view of one of the screwcaps for the valve chambers.

- Fig. 8 shows in end view as seen from the left, a series of integrally cast intake and exhaust chambers and t ieir common connecting member B, while Fig. 9 is a sectional view, thereof taken along the line Q2 11 of Fig. 8.;

ig. 10 is a sectional view of the casing inclosing the exhaust ind intake chambers taken along the line in 1 of Fig. 11 while Fig. 11 shows an'end view similar to Fig. 3 of this'chamber.

Fig. 12 shows the same case in a transverse sectional view when along the line Fig. 1,.

ig. 15 is a. transverse sectional view ,of the crank case taken along the line w -Tiy of Fig. 13 while Fig. 16 is a central transverse sectional view of the member for supplying oil to. the several crank shafts.

Fig. 17 is an end view of a modified detail relating to the igniting mechanism and Fig. 18 is a side view of one of the spark plugs and shows the method of supporting the part U from the series of spark plugs KL In the accompanying drawings, to avoid the confusion which would'result from letterilg all the parts, I have referred to the ball bearings as R as including the races and balls and all. the adjusting nuts as N, such parts being well known in the art I have preferred to designate them in this way, as

above indicated, to avoid the confusionwhich would result from a multiplicity of letters.

Similar parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings The frame for my engine comprises side pieces II to which the transverse cnd mcmhers 'I and T'- are bolted. The mcmlmr '1 has a flange or web extending dounu'ai'dllv therefrom and has cast integrally therewith the intake and exhaust connecting members t and t respectively, such openings adapted to' aline in the assembled engine with the intake and exhaust openings 0 and O as seen in Figs. '10 and 11.. On this cross piece 7 T there is also provided a bearing t for a stationary central element of the engine in the form of the hollow shaft '5, which is rigidly secured therein and on this member T there are provided also bosses t for refor such bolts being indicated at 2.

ceivingthe bolts, four in number, bymeans i of which the member T is secured to the rear or left hand end with respect'to Fig. 1 of the cylindrical fuel head or case D containing the exhaust and intake chambers, the holes The inner face of the part T and the abutting face of the part D are of course properly fitted to make a tight joint.

The head D is enlarged at its left hand .end to make connection with the exhaust opening in the part t and the-alined opening 0 in the head D is connected'with the inner annular chamber D around which there is an outer annular chamber D, the

opening to which is alined with the-intake -opening in the member F. The outer chamber'D opens radially outward through an intake port 0 while the innerchamber I) is extended through the outer chamber and opens outwardly therethrough and through an exhaust. port-0 in the outer peripheral wall (I of the casing D, which is turned ofi".

on the outside to receive the inner ends of the correspondingly conformed bushings or tubular valve members Q, of which there are 6, one in each of the chambers of a plurality of valve casings 5, extending radially tral supporting member B, on which there.

isfornied a central hub Zr" bored out to re ceive a bushing Z2 ,on' which to rotate on the shaft S, 'on which shaft the chamber D is keyed. The central chamber within the member B is bored out to receive the smaller cylindrical body portion cl of the case D. The valve tubes or bushings Q, are closed at their outer ends and spring actuated as seen in Fig. 1 by means of springs 1 seated in and-adjustable by means of the screw caps B, and are thereby held in engagement against the wall (Z of the member D. Each member Q comprises a cylindrical tube open at its inner end and having at right angles with the bore thereof an opening through the side wall registering with the opening through the right angled extension 5 to the corresponding chamber 7) and also another opening registering with the threaded opcn ing (F, directly opposite the extension I) for receiving the spark plug K. Strengthening wcbs I) are l'orlncd between the lnlb If and the inner wall ol' the member and the exlcnsions I) have lugs or cars lhercon through openings in which the members I) are bolted directly to-the heads (1 ol the cylinders (.1, from which constrm-tion it results that .for each complete rotation of the member B each valve tube or connecting member Q, is brought opposite theintake port'o for supplying the charge to the corresponding cylinder and then at approximately three quarters of a rotation thereafter is brought opber 7) the inner end of a connecting rod P the outer end of which makes connection by 'v on'the crank-V, connected in the usual way with the main shart o and to each crank pin 4) there is bolted the outer end of a crank V secured on the short shaft 72 Therrank case members A and A are' provided on. "their outer end faces with bosscs e which are extended axially through the crank case and bored out to receive the means of a ball bearing R with a crank .pin

bolts c for holding such 'crank' case meni- L hers together and also for holding the cylinders in place. The left hand crank-case member A is provided on its end face with circular bearing faces E trued ofl" to receive the flanged ends of the cylinders C and the,

cylinders carry lugs 0 properly alined with the bosses e and bored out to receive the bolts (1 extending therethrough. The combined crank case comprising the members- A and. A has an inner wall A? through which a series of recessed openings a, are provided for receiving the ball bearings R for the crank shafts o while va series of ino eled planet gear "9 meshm ternally threaded and ii'iwardly extending bosses a are formed, six in number, seen at regular intervals around the outer wall of the crank case for receiving the ball bearings R for the short shafts o and the threaded caps N serve as adjusting means for these last named ball hearings in the manner clearly indicated in Fig. 1. a Each shaft 11 has on itsinner end a bevwith a beveled sun gear G secured by bo ts n toa flange 8 which is formed preferably by weldless forging on the hollow shaft S and extending radially outward therefrom. The proportions of the gears g and G are such that two complete rotations of each planet gear 9 efiect a complete revolution of the cylinders C and crankshaft V and the other parts comprising each individual unit of the engine around the fixed shaft S. Thus it will be seen that each. unit comprises a four cycle unit.

The crank case 'n'lember A. is provided with "an inwardly extending hub a? bored out to receive the shaft S while the member [A is provided with a similar and inwardly extending member ciwhich is bored out and threaded internally to receive a nut as indicated more fully in Fig.:5 for adjusting the ball bearing R, comprising the ball races 1 and 1' at the end of the shaft S serving, to forcesuch bearing against the collar 8 on the shaft S and serving also to keep the inner and otherwise free end of the shaft S in alinement. On the outer end of the right hand section A1. of the crank case there is secured by bolts-n the disk S forged integrally with which is seen the shaft S having a shoulder thereon for receiving the ball race 1' cooperating with the I raceqr seated in the hub member; t, on the cross iece T and adjustable therein by means io' "f the threaded, collar N. This end piece -T -has also, extending to the right therefrom, a bracket t formed by an exten --,sion of the horizontally disposed web theree on, and to which there is secured the magnetoM having on the'armature shaft thereof a gear G meshing in turn with the gear G secured to the flange S and to the memher A by means of bolts n, as seen in Fig. 5, One terminal of the magneto is groundedas usual in internal combustion engines and the other terminal w isconnectedby means of the cable W with the contacting se' 'entJ, secured in the channel in the .I-insulating'member U upon the bracket u, screwedto the horizontally disposed flange "on the end frame member T. Connection between the cable W and the contacting segnient J is effected through the medium of the screw connection j-and the thumb nut thereon. the cable having a connecting clip in adapted to slip over the threaded member j, Which in turn is connected directly with outward through a iother opening in the the segment J. Eat}. individual spark plug K carries an adj usttblecap If: on the outer end of the terminal i adapted to pass within'the channeled segment U and the usual adjusting means is p rovided to advance and retard the spark which, forming no part 'of my present inventh n, is omitted, and by the operation of which, however, ignition can be effected at any point in the period of time during which each Sparkplug is passing the sparking segment J. The terminal caps 7c are held in proper adjustment by means of the lock nuts Through the shaft S there extend two oil tubes I and I, the latter terminating in an elbow extending radially outward through an opening in the shaft S within the bushing If to lubricate ti e same while the tube I terminates in an elbow" extending radiallyshaft S ust withi'i the annular channel within the oil device con'lprising the star like structure F indicated in sectional view a in Fig. '16 comprising an. inner chamber and having tl1e ,tubula' arms 7' thereon into which the oil is fed by the tube 1. By the rotation of the member if the oil. is caused to pass outwardly through the arms 7 and into and through the hollow crank shafts '0 for lubricating the parts 'within the crank case. Opposite the center of each opening M a there extends from thewall A and radially inward a welc a: one ofwhich webs is seen at a in F ig. l and through each of thesewebs there is seen an oil duct-f for supplying oil from ihe crank case. to the ball hearing. at the end of the shaft S. The tubes I and 1 connect wi 11 the oil cup L located on the end frame member T. i

A suitable lead p;pe L is connected with the opening t and i supplied with the usual carbureter as indhated in diagram at L. Oil is supplied to tie cylinders C, with the carbureted mixture from a suitable source of supply not show: 1. Refer now to Fig 12. While each one )f the connecting members Q has any par; of its opening opposite the exhaust port of the burnt ases are permitted to escape and are orced thereand in the same way during, that part of the rotation of the engf ne while each member Q, has its opening opposite the port 0 the carbureted mixture is supplied by the action of the engine in the usual. way, therethrough and to the corresponding cylinder. I In many instant es I prefer to make use of the arrangemenl for effecting ignition of the carbureted mi) turein the cylinders by means of the apparatus now to be described referencebeing ma is to Figs. 17 and l8. U is -.an insulatingring provided with coi'itacting plates at secured on the inner periphery thcreof and'provided with lugs 130 through from the corresponding .cylinde'r or cars for engagin r over the threaded and shouldered termina s 161 of the spark plugs K and which by .means of the nuts 70 are firmly held in place, together with the ring 5 U. The nuts 70 and studs 70 comprise the electrical connecting means between the plates u and the internal mechanism of the spark plug K. This insulating ring U revolves with the engine and the contacting members u therein are brought into engagement successively with the contacting spring J held in place by means of then11tj ,wl1icl1 is threaded onto a bolt or screw extending upwardly from the insulating member Underneath this nut 7' is secured the terminal w of the cable W. Upon the rotation of the engine then the spark plugs of the several cylinders are brought successively into electrical connection with the armature of the magneto in a way to elfect, ignition. The point of ignition may be advanced or retarded in the usual way by means of the usual attachments to the Bosch magneto which is the type indicated in diagram in Figs. 1 and 4, the mechanism of which is so well known in the art as to call for no further explanation herein and the operation of this feature also of my invention is believed to be sufiiciently clear to call for no further description thereof;

From the above description of the construetion and cooperation of the several parts of my engine it is believed that the operation of the whole is sufliciently clear to call for no further description herein.

- The essential elements of my invention comprise then a series of individual units arranged in parallel relation and a central element in combination with means whereby the operation of the units effects a relative rotation between the central element and the series of units and it also consists in means for supplying through a single intake pipe combustible fluid to the explosive chambers of the individual units and in connecting each of such combustion chambers with a common exharst pipe and also in supplying electric energy to the igniting dei vice of each one of the series of units.

An especial advantage to be noted in this structl'ue is that it becomes possible, by reason of. this arrangement, to provide the en ginewith a? muflier even when the series of units comprises the revoluble element, as shown in the drawings, to whi h a ment however I do not hereby limit myself.

What I claim is: I

1. I n an enginea series of independent but connected units each comprising, a comhustion chamber, a piston working therein, a crank shaft and a connecting rod between the crank shaft and piston, the combustion chambers arranged with their axes substantially parallel to each other; an element "centrally disposed relative to the units; op-

erative connections between the crank shafts an the central element comprising a sun gear-on the central element and planet gears "()11 the crank shafts; the central element terminating at one end within the series of units but outside of the sun gear and extend ed at the other end beyond the series of units; suitable bearings between the series of units and the central element permitting their relative rotation and maintaining their alinemen t; an induction and an eduction chamber mounted on the central element having suitable intake and exhaust ports; suitable supporting system of units and for the central element permitting their relative rotation; a hollow cylindrical valve casing for each unit of the series with its bore extending radially with reference to the central element and in each casing a hollow cylindrical valve member, spring actuated against the induction and eduction chambers, to successively register with the respective ports and having a lateral opening therein and comprising an intake and an exhaust connection to the cor responding combustion chamber of the series, an ignition device for each valve chain,- her and means for successively energizing at suitable intervals each ignition device.

2. In an engine a series of independent but connected units each comprising, a combustion chamber, a piston working therein, a rank shaft and a connecting rod between the crank shaft and piston, the combustion chambers arranged with the axes substanstantially parallel to each other; an element centrally disposed relative to the units; operative connections between the crank shafts and the central element comprising a sun gear on the central element and planet gears on the crank shafts; the central element terminating at one end within the series of units but outside of the sun gear and extended at the other end beyond the series of units; suitable bearings between the se ries of units and the central element permitting theirrelative rotation and maintaining their alinement; an induction and aneduct ion chamber mounted on the central element having suitable intake and ex hall St ports; a suitable support for the central element; a suitable bearing forrevolublv supporting the connected series of units; a hollow cylindrical valve casing for each unit of the series with its bore extending radially with reference to the central element and in each casin'gia hollow cylindrical valve member, spring actuated against the induction and eduction chamber to successively register with the respective ports and having a lateral opening therein and con1- prising an intake and exhaust connection to the corresponding combustion chamber of the series, an ignition device for each valve chamber, and means for successively means for the connected llO ' but connected units each comprising, a combustion chamber, a piston working therein,

a crank shaft and a connecting rod between the crank shaft and piston, the combustion chambers arranged withtheir axes substantially parallel to each other; an element centrallydisposed relative to the units; op-

erative connections between the crank shafts and the central element comprising a sun gear on the central element and planet gears on the crank shafts; the central element terminating at one end within the series of units but outside of the sun gear and extended at the other end beyond the series of unitsjsuitable bearings between the series of units and the central element permitting their relative rotation and maintaining their al-inement; an induction and an eduction chambermountcd on the central element having suitable intake and exhaust ports; suitable supportin means for the connected system of units and "for the central element permitting their relative rotation; a hollow cylindrical valve casing for each unit of the series with its bore extending radially with reference'to the central element and in. each casing a hollow cylindrical valve member, spring actuated against the induction and eduction chambers, to successively register with the respective ports and having two lateral openings therein, one of which connects with and leads to the corresponding combustion chamber and comprising anintake and an exhaust connection to the corresponding combustion chamber of the series; .an ignition device located at the other lateral opening of each valve member and means for successively energizingat suitable intervals each ignition device.

4. In an engine a. series of independent but connected'units eachfcomprising, a cone bustlon chamber, a piston working therein, a crank shaft and a connecting rod between the crank shaft and piston, .the combustion chambers arranged with their axes s'nbstantial'ly parallel to each other; an element centrally disposed relative to the units; 011)- er'ative connections between the crank sha ts and the central element comprising a sun gear on; the central. element and planet gears onthe crank shafts; the central element terminatingat one end within the se-' ries of units but outside of the sungear and Y extended at the other end beyond the series of unitsy suitable bearings between the series ofunitsand the central element per mitting their'relative rotation and main- 1-taining thei-r "alinement; an inductionand ganeduction chamber mountedon the'centrfll, element havingsuitable intake and ex blush-P 15; u b s pp or he-c ntralz-eleinen t s mi arities,

.minating at one end wi2hin the'series of units but outsideofthe, sun

is e are he a you a a a at with reference to the cam ral element andin each casing a hollow cylindrical valve meme her, spring actuated against the induction and eduction chambers tc successively register with the respective ports and havlng two lateral openings therein, one of which connects with and leads to the corresponding combustion chamber and comprising an intake and an exhaust cOI nection to the corresponding combustion chamber of the series, an ignition device located at the other lateral opening of each valve member and means for successively enl :rgilzing at suitable intervals each ignition'davice.

5. In an engine a series .of independent but connected units each comprising, a combustion chamber, a piston Working therein, a crank shaft and a conncotingfrod between the crank shaft and piston, the combustion chambers arranged with their axes substantially parallel to each Otl'll if; an element cen trally disposed relative .to the units; operative connections between the crank shafts and the central element comprising a sun gear on the central elemer t and planet gears on the crank shafts; the c antral element ter-' units but outside of the sun gear and extended at the other end b1 :yond the series of units; suitable bearings 'ietween the s'eries of units and the central element permitting their relative rotation and maintaining their alinement; an induction and an eduction chamber mounted on the central element having suitable intake aiid exhaust ports; suitable supporting means for the connected system of-units and for tie central element 105 permitting their relative rotation; suitable connecting means between each combustion chamber and the induction and eduction chambers adapted to coitipe rate with the ports therein for suitably timi 1g the supply to, 1 the compression in, and the exhaust rom', each combustion chamber for each combus- 1 tion chamber an ignition device and means for successively energizing at suitable inter-.' vals each ignition device. 5

6. Injan engine a series of independent but connected-units each (omprising, a combustion chamber, a pistor workin' therein, a crankshaft and 'aconm cting r between the crank shaft andpistc n, the combustionf'lzo chambers arranged withiheir axes substantially parallel to eachothe 1-; an element centrally disposed relativeltc 1 the units", o era tive connectionsbetween the crank safts"; and the cthtral, element comprising a sun: r1 5. gearon the, centralifelen ent 'and planetgears i. on thecrankishaft8;, the1oantral element terminating at one end wiihjnithe-series or,

mad

units; suitable bearings between the series of units and the central element permitting] their relative rotation and maintaining their alinement; an induction and an eduction chamber mounted on the central elen'ient ha ving suitable intake and exhaust ports; a snitable support "for the central element; a suitable bearing for revolubly supporting the connected series of units; suitable connecting means between each combustion chamber and the indimtion and eduetion chambers adapted to cooperate with the ports therein for suitably timing the supply to the compression in, and the exhaust from, each combustionchamber;. -lor each combustion chamber an ignitionllevice and means l or successively energizing at suitable intervals each ignition device.

7. In a rotary gas engine, the con'ibination with a central stationary member and a plurality of engine cylinders surrounding the. same with their axes parallel therewith, of a circular head on, the stationary member having radially opening t'uel intake and exhaust ports thereon. a valve casingt'or each cylinder extending transversely thereof and radially of the headand a valve tube in each casing having an open end' riding on the head to register successively with the ports thereof and opening into the cylinder, said valve tube being removable. through the outer end of the valve casing.

8'. In a rotary gas engine, the combination with'a central stationary member and a. plurality of engine cylini lers surrolnuling the same withtheir axes parallel therewith. ol" a circular head on the stationary men'iber having radially opening vfuel intake and exhaust ports thereon, a valve casing for each cylinder extending transverselythereof and radially of the head and a valve tube in each easing having an open end riding on the head to register successively with the ports thereof and provided with a lateral opening communicating with the cylinder.

5). In a rotary gas engine, the combination with a central stationary member and a plurality of engine cylinders surrounding the same with their axes parallel therewith, of a circular head on the stationary member ha ring radially opening fuel intake and exhaust ports thereon, a. valve casing for each cylinder extending transversely thereof and radially of the head, a valve tube in each easing having an open. end riding on the head to register successively with the ports thereof and opening into the eylimler, a removable plug in the outer end of the valve casing and a spring interposed between the plug and tube to hold the latter tight against the head, said plug permitting the removal of the spring and tube through the outer end of the valve easing.

10. In a rotary gas engine, the combination with a central stationary member and a plurality of engine cylinders surrounding the same with their axes parallel therewith, of a circular head on the stationary member having radially opening intake and exhaust ports thereon, a valve casing for each cylinder extending transversely thereof and radially of the head, an ignition device pr ojeeting into each casing at one side and a valve tube in each casing having an open end riding on' the head to register succes sively with the ports thereof and provided with lateral openings, one to receive the ignition. device and the other communicating with the cylinder.

HENRY L. F. TREBERT.

i'l itnesses:

MARTHA M. NELSOE, ()snomm F. Gunner. 

